Closing ceremony to be closed-door event

TONIGHT'S Asian Youth Games closing ceremony will not be open to the public, as organisers have decided to keep it an intimate affair.

Said Games spokesman Jose Raymond: 'The closing ceremony will be held at the Raffles Ballroom, L4, Raffles City Convention Centre.

'As it is meant to be an informal event for the remaining athletes and officials to bond and interact, we have thus decided not to open it for public participation.

'There will also be a short ceremony with the handing of the flags to the next host country at the closing ceremony.'

Athletes will be treated to a host of cultural performances before the sit-down dinner, which will be graced by Senior Parliamentary Secretaries Masagos Zulkifli (Education and Home Affairs) and Teo Ser Luck (Community Development, Youth and Sports and Transport).

S'pore bowlers get friendly foreign boost

SINGAPOREANS were not the only ones who were behind the Republic's keglers during the step-ladder finals of the Masters events last night.

Not-so-neutral bowlers from Hong Kong, Macau and Japan were spotted in the stands at the Orchid Country Club, cheering wildly and waving Team Singapore clappers.

Thanks to some quick language lessons by helpful fans, they were also able to sing along to chants like 'Let's Go, Singapore!' and 'What's New? Hui Fen!'